house painting question

[idiosynchrissy]

I am helping to renovate a house for a single mom with no where else to live, and although I can do the basics, there are a couple of things I have to learn. Does anyone know how to remove that hideous popcorn ceililing type paint? I glanced online but didn't see anything about it. I'm sure I could look around in more depth, but I thought some of you guys might know. Thanks in advance.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

I am helping to renovate a house for a single mom with no where else to live, and although I can do the basics, there are a couple of things I have to learn. Does anyone know how to remove that hideous popcorn ceililing type paint? I glanced online but didn't see anything about it. I'm sure I could look around in more depth, but I thought some of you guys might know. Thanks in advance.Hold on! We don't see much of that stuff here so I am in no way certain about this, but the problem is that it may (and most likely does) contain asbestos, so you probably want to avoid tearing it down: The asbestos will do little damage as long as it remains in place, but if you start ripping it out, quite a bit of it will end up in your lungs! You are probably better off covering it with something else, like styrofoam tiles.

P.S. Glad to see that you are lending a helping hand to that lady, :thumbs_up but don't risk your health in the process, ok? Take precautions if you have to work with that stuff.

/Claes

[Petrarch's Love]

Claes is right about the asbestos. This is not a do it yourself job. I know someone who's done everything around his home, including tiling, plumbing and electrical, and he wouldn't touch that stuff. It's difficult and potentially dangerous if you don't know what you're doing and end up inhaling some of the asbestos. You can hire people to come out and remove it (which my mom just did after 16 years of staring up at popcorn in the family home), you can try covering it up with tin or styrofoam tiles, or you can just try to live with it if it isn't too bad. It's very nice of you to so generously spend your time helping someone with her home.

[idiosynchrissy]

Thanks for the replies. I knew I could count on this forum. Looks like she will be living with it then as we are on a very limited budget. It could always be worse. :)

[Virgil]

How do you know it's asbestos? What do you mean popcorn paint? Are you talking about the flakey texture stuff they put in the paint for ceilings? Isn't that plaster of paris?

[Shalot]

yeah, I hope it's not asbestos!! Because that's on my ceilings!!! But I know it's not asbestos since this house isn't that old. If you're really concerned about it, I guess you should make some inquiries but I think popcorn ceilings are done for aesthetic value (or they were - I think they're out of style at the moment) so it would be plaster or something put in that pattern on purpose. I've seen home improvement shows where the objective is to get rid of that popcorn ceiling because it's a decorating no-no.

It seems like they just scraped away at it though. But I'm really not sure. Mainly the point of my reply is to say that I would think the chances of that being asbestos are small (unless the house is 20 or more years older).

[Virgil]

I guess there are ceilings with absestos. That's incredible. Here are a number of sites that discuss it: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=popcorn+paint&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=popcorn+pain. I have never come across it. You'll need to identify whether it is asbestos and if it is, you'll need a professional.

[idiosynchrissy]

It's a very old house. It's the one my dear old dad grew up in. He is giving it to this single mom. I'm assuming it's asbestos and leaving it alone. Better safe than sorry. Really, the popcorn paint is the least of my worries. We just all thought it was hideous.